18 July 2003

Volume 2, Number 14

NJ Dept of Military and Veterans Affairs

BG Glenn K. Rieth

The Adjutant General

COL Maria F. Morgan

Deputy Adjutant General

COL Emil H. Philibosian

Deputy Commissioner for Veterans   Affairs

Contacting us is easy!

Office of the

Joint Chief of Staff

Col (Ret) Michael B. Smith

Mrs. Laura A. Branham

Phone:

(609) 530-6987

Fax: 

(609) 530-7109

Email:

branham@njdmava.state.nj.us

We're on the Web!

www.state.nj.us/military

Believe in yourself.

Across all ages and all groups, a solid belief in one's own abilities increases life satisfaction by about 40%, and makes us happier both in our homes and in our work lives.

.David Niven, PhD

The State Family Readiness Office, in conjunction with NJ Transit, conducted a Summer Services Event at Belmar, New Jersey on Thursday, 17 July 2003.  Twenty-five families and 45 children of our deployed soldiers were transported from Teaneck and Cherry Hill Armories about NJ Transit's newest cartoon character busses to spend a day at the beach in Belmar.  The day's activities began with a VIP Barbeque, followed by age-appropriate activities for the children, activity tents, transportation to the Belmar Beach, and gift baskets at the end of the day with tickets to Great Adventure, Liberty Science Center, and other recreational locations within New Jersey.  The Recruiting Command showcased their HUMVEE and recruiting programs.  WKTU 103.5 FM broadcast live coverage of the festivities.  

During the month of June, Mr. Donald McNamara, Monmouth County VSO, helped the veterans in that county obtain $785,000 in monetary awards.  His outreach efforts are really working!

Congratulations to TSgt Dawn Valois of the 108^th Medical Detachment Squadron for being named as an Honor Graduate at the USAF Non-Commissioned Officer Academy  graduation ceremonies held 10 July 2003.

On 9 July 2003, Brig Gen Eugene Chojnacki presented the Distinguished Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal to 168 veterans in a ceremony held at the Millville Elks in Millville, NJ.  Honored guests at the ceremony included Assemblymen Nicholas Asselta, Jeffrey VanDrew, and Douglas Fisher.  BG Thomas Sullivan presented Vietnam Service Medals to 102 veterans at a ceremony hosted by the 3^rd Battalion 112^th Field Artillery at the National Guard Armory in Morristown on 15 July 2003.  Representatives from the offices of Senator Anthony Bucco and Assemblyman Guy Gregg were in attendance.  CW5 (Ret) Robert Wimberly acted as Master of Ceremonies at both medal presentations. 

Six members from the 305^th Finance Detachment deployed to Vicenza, Italy on 12 July 2003 to conduct their Annual Training period with the 208^th Finance Battalion.  The following individuals will provide support to this active duty Finance Battalion through 26 July 2003:  SSG Jose Colon, SPC David Michaels, SPC Hui Tian, PFC Eric Zinader, PFC Chan Suh, and PFC Jon Vasquez.

Aviation is on the move again with the selection of two new WOCs for Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) school.  CW5 Al Curving, Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) of the NJARNG, and COL Paul Ciervo, State Army Aviation Officer (SAAO) jointly announce announce two WOC accessions resulting from a recent order of merit list (OML) board section process.  The individuals are:  from SPC/E4 to WOC Matthew N. Lanese, effective 26 June 2003, and from SGT/E5 to WOC Daryl J. Lynch, effective 26 June 2003.  Both candidates were accessed into the 1/150^th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB).  Congratulations!

For more information about any of these events, please call the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation office at (732) 335-0033.

Only computers that are certified by the G6 to meet the requirements for processing official government traffic are authorized for connection to the RCAS network.  This means the computers have been configured to meet the security requirements for use on a Department of Defense network.  Unauthorized computers that are identified by the Network Control Center will be disconnected from the network, and may result in an entire location being disconnected until the matter is corrected.  Questions on this policy should be directed to the G6 Help Desk at 609-530-6899 or HELPDESKNJ@nj.ngb.army.mil.

As NJ Army National Guard units conducted final preparations for Annual Training 2003 (AT-03), it is imperative that Food Service Supervisors do everything possible to protect our soldiers from food-borne illness and man-made contaminants.  To reenergize the this important issue, the G4 Food Service Team, CW2 John Garrison, MSG James Moran, and the 50^th BDE, Food Service Advisor, MSG Joseph Brady conducted a food sanitation class during the period 12-13 July 2003 at the National Guard Training Center. 

Today is the 199^th day of 2003.  There are 166 days left in the year.

On this date:

Ø       In 64 A.D., the Great Fire of Rome began.

Ø       In 1927, Ty Cobb hit safely for the 4,000^th time in his career.

Ø       In 1932, the United States and Canada signed a treaty to develop the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Ø       In 1936, The Spanish Civil War began.

Ø       In 1940, the Democratic national convention in Chicago nominated President Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term in office.

Ø       In 1969, a car driven by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass, plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island near Martha's Vineyard.

Ø       In 2002, accused September 11^th conspirator, Zacarias Moussaoui, tried to plead guilty to charges that could have brought the death penalty, but a federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia insisted he think about it.

J            Antarctica is the driest, coldest, windiest, and highest continent on earth. 

J            There are 119 groves on the edge of a quarter.

J            18% of animal owners share their bed with their pets.

J            Alaska has more caribou than people.

J            Googol is a number (1 followed by 100 zeros).